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# Bibliography

#### compiled by Mark D F Shirley

Additions by:

Ryan Myint

Here are some books from my bookshelf that I have used in writing Ars Magica stories and articles. I have listed authors and ISBN numbers, but much of this info (especially in the Mythology section) can be obtained from other sources

If you know of any other books useful for or related to Ars Magica, please email the site maintainer, and details can be added to this list.

## History

The Middle Ages, A Concise Encyclopaedia (H.R. Loyn [ed], Thames and Hudson)

A first class resource - I recommend you get it if you can. It has thousands of entries, from biographies of selected historical figures to mini-essays on any aspect of Mediaeval life. Great for checking out little details. ISBN 0-500-27645-5

Magic in the Middle Ages (R. Kieckhefer, CUP)

What REAL magic was like in the Middle Ages! ISBN 0-521-31202-7

The Medieval World: Europe from 1100-1350 (F. Heer, Weidenfeld & Nicolson)

Less on history, more on individual subjects - science, economy, urban life, literature, etc. ISBN 0-297-82014-1

The New Penguin Atlas of Medieval History (Colin McEvedy, Penguin)

Maps and history. Very useful for planning campaigns, less good on finer detail. ISBN 0-14-051249-7

The Normans and their world (Jack Lindsay, Purnell)

Good, but obviously restricted in location (northern France, Britian and southern Italy). ISBN ??

The Vikings (Else Roesdahl, Penguin)

Excellent detail of everyday life in the Viking era. ISBN 0-14-012561-2

Western Society and the Church in the Middle Ages (Richard William Southern, 1970)

This book is indispensable for gaining an understanding of medieval Christendom. ISBN 0-14-013755-6

## Mythology & Folklore

Ancient Israel: Myths and Legends, Vol 1 (A.S. Pappoport, Senate)

Confusing in places, but good for the adventure I had written that took place in the Garden of Eden. ISBN 1-85958-170-6

Celtic Mythology (Ward Rutherford, Aquarian Press)

A good overview of Celtic (both Irish and Welsh) myths. ISBN 0-85030-551-9

The Hammer of the North (Magnus Magnusson, BCA)

A fascinating account of the coming of Christianity to Scandinavia. ISBN 0-85613-301-9

The Legends of King Arthur and his Knights (James Knowles, Senate)

A nice, cheap compilation, like many of the mythology series in the Senate series. ISBN 1-85958-176-5

The Mabinogion (Gwyn Jones & Thomas Jones [Translators], Everyman)

The main source of Welsh myths and the origin of many of the King Arthur stories. ISBN 0-460-87066-1

Norse Myths: Gods of the Vikings (Kevin Crossley-Holland, Penguin)

Translations of the Eddas, put into easily digestible form. One of the best books on Norse mythology. ISBN 0-14-025869-8

Russian Fairy Tales (P. Wheeler, Senate)

Excellent for story ideas, particularly in the high fantasy of Russia's Otherworld. ISBN 1-85958-181-1

## Other Role Playing Games

GURPS (Steve Jackson Games)

Like most of the GURPS books, an excellent resource for other genres. I can personally recommend GURPS Russia, GURPS Arabian Nights and GURPS Celtic Myth very highly. The first is almost an essential for a Novgorod saga (until Atlas bring out their own of course :), and by using Arabian Nights, you could easily get a Levantine saga up and running - it's also a good source for the Crusades. I'm also told that GURPS Vikings and GURPS Middle Ages I are good, but both are out of print.

Pendragon (Chaosium)

Very good for flavour of particularly the early Middle Ages, 'though you have to be careful of the squiffy date system, as it doesn't conform to historical years. All the books are filled with info about mythic sites, fairies and monsters all around the British Isles. "Lordly Domains" is an excellent resource in general, with articles on hunting, heraldry, warfare amongst others. "Beyond the Wall" is all about Scotland, "Pagan Shore" is good for Ireland, and "Land of Giants" covers Scandinavia.

Campaign Classics (I.C.E.)

I've only managed to lay my hands on "Mythic Egypt", but have used it several times for ideas. They too have a "Vikings" book, and a "Mythic Greece: Age of Heroes". Haven't seen any of his series around for a long time though.

Advanced Dungeons and Dragons (TSR)

Much maligned (not necessarily unjustly), but their Historical Reference series are very useful. "The Glory of Rome" is great for planning an alternate eras saga, perhaps set in the early days of the Cult of Mercury, as well as giving background details on the Roman period. Their Viking and Charlemagne books might also prove useful

Vampire: The Dark Ages (White Wolf)

In many ways, worse than AD&D, mainly because it's so depressing! However, bits of the "Dark Ages Companion" have proved useful for flavour

## Fiction

The Cadfael Chronicles (Ellis Peters, Warner Futura)

Murder-mysteries set in 13th century Shrewsbury. Cadfael is the Welsh ex-mercenary-turned-friar who solves the mysteries. At last count, there were 19 novels.

The Canterbury Tales (Geoffrey Chaucer, World's Classics series, OUP)

Translated into plain English (thank God!). ISBN 0-19-281597-0

Daggerspell (Katherine Kerr, Grafton)

Low fantasy, set in a Welsh-Celtic world. Many very good ideas, and a great source of inspiration. Several sequels. ISBN 0586073159

The Divine Comedy (Dante Alighieri, Penguin Classics, 3 volumes)

"Hell", "Purgatory" and "Paradise" are the three volumes - a bit later than the ArM period, but useful for flavour - if you can penetrate the allegory. The notes in the Penguin editions helps! ISBN 0-14-044006-2, 0-14-044046-1 & 0-14-044105-0

Lord of the Middle Air (Michael Scott Rohan)

Set in the Borders of Scotland in the 13th Century, it retells the story of the wizard Michael Scott (who is the author's ancestor). Could almost be an Ars Magica novel! ISBN 0575060999

Prince Ivan (Peter Morwood)

First of a trilogy (the others are "The Firebird" and "The Golden Horde"), set in Russia at the time of the Mongol invasion. Excellent for details on Russian life. The last book of the series is more historical than the other two. ISBN 0712634045

A Spell of Empire: The Horns of Tartarus (Michael Scott Rohan and Allan Scott)

An alternate earth, with magic, and the premise that the Emperor Constans did not accept Christianity as the official religion of the Empire of Rome. Very funny, as well as thought provoking. ISBN 0-7088-8360-5